Sarawak needs RM28.4 bil for 4,400 km of new roads

The Sarawak government says it is looking to build 4,402 km of new roads in the state by 2030, but will need funding to the tune of RM24.8 billion to accomplish the task, Bernama reports.

Deputy chief minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing said that the proposed roads – which aims to connect more than 1,000 existing roads and all 5,000 settlements in the state – would require RM1.9 billion a year to build for every 338 km if they are built within the 14-year period at the projected cost.

“Whether the government has the money to build those roads or not is another question. But out of interest I am telling you that Sarawak alone collects approximately RM2 billion a year in goods and services tax (GST), while we need RM1.9 billion a year to build the roads until 2030,” Masing told reporters.

He ventured that GST was a good means for the government to collect funds for infrastructure development to compensate for the low price of oil and gas. “You can see the connection there, that if we keep the money collected from GST we have more than enough to fulfil our dream of connecting the whole of Sarawak. We have the money, but do we have the political will to influence the (federal) government to allow that to happen,” he added.

He said that a proper discussion will be held on whether some of the GST money could be used to build the roads, adding that he would bring up the matter for discussion with the state government. “The spirit to fight for what is required by Sarawak is important and I am sure the federal government will appreciate that and will understand the need for us to develop,” Masing stated.

Anthony Lim believes that nothing is better than a good smoke and a car with character, with good handling aspects being top of the prize heap. Having spent more than a decade and a half with an English tabloid daily never being able to grasp the meaning of brevity or being succinct, he wags his tail furiously at the idea of waffling - in greater detail - about cars and all their intrinsic peculiarities here.

It was revealed during Sarawak Election that Sarawak has a reserves of about RM20 billions. Use part that money to fund the development la. Don’t keep harping that Malaya is not helping them or plundering their wealth.

What about road maintenance cost in the long run?
Hopefully with the added connectivity, the collections will also increase in tandem to increased maintenance costs.
But to increase collections in GST, there needs to be increased consumption which can only come from increased population.

“Whether the government has the money to build those roads or not is another question. But out of interest I am telling you that Sarawak alone collects approximately RM2 billion a year in goods and services tax (GST), while we need RM1.9 billion a year to build the roads until 2030″

explains everything. In other words, they never leave any money for maintenance. No wonder our political funds seems to be running on donations, they never save for rainy days. Such pity…

excuse me, but fyi, we sarawak is the biggest supplier of petroleum in malaysia for the last few decades until this very day, every year contributes hundreds of billions to petronas and government…..it’s not too much to ask for 1.9 billion per year in return, is it?

and fyi, we are the actual ones who eat peanuts here…..come to sarawak and see for yourself.

Ultimately, Sarawak and Sabah need their fair share of monetary incentives for development. But then again, nothing is ever going to happen. So, just get a trusty Land Rover and kit it up to make the road trip tolerable.

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